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I am so happy that DADT is finally gone. I have to say this was a perfectly timed thing to happen for our country, in terms of what time of year Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was repealed, a nice gift from our government. Its just sad that this policy ever occurred in the first place. It was grotesque and shameful that we ever went there. And terrible that it took nearly two decades for the folly to be properly dealt with. It made us seem less civilized than other industrialized nations on this matter. But with it’s repeal finally seeing reality, I feel a little more hopeful that our country can move forward into a better future. It shows us that progress is happening, I just wish it didn’t take so damn long.

Now to figure out what this may mean for Kate Kane, we’ll need to acknowledge this in some way, but properly in the plot, much like the policy’s enforcement affected the plot for Batwoman’s origin. Like it informed her past, setting her on the path she now has, this new progress will have to inform her direction at some point in a significant way.

DADT – Finally gone. A small step for civil rights for Gay and Lesbian Americans, but a historic small step.

I have always felt, since reading the origin arc, that is was kind of a blessing in disguise for Kate to have left West Point the way she did. I mean, she obviously had/has a great NEED to serve and by keeping her integrity and honor and turning over her ring and leaving, she realized that JUSTICE isn’t always fair. That following the rules and regulations doesn’t mean that the rules and regulations are always “right” … and that’s what helped make Batwoman possible. If she’d have stayed at West Point, if she’d have lied about who she really was as a person, then there would likely be no Batwoman at all. My take on it, of course.

Happy Holidays, everyone.

Thanks for a great 2010, J3. Can’t wait to see what you do with Kate/Batwoman in 2011.

Hey there Pam
Thanks for your well spoken insights. I feel that in some ways Kate still got to serve her country, regardless of becoming Batwoman. By staying true to herself, showing personal principle, her actions and decision to leave a position that saw her as something less valued, was symbolically serving the greater good. Showing us all to take a stand for what is right.

Oh, my gosh, without a doubt – What you said is exactly what I was leaning towards.

I kind of see it as that – Kate saying “I will be and do my best, I will serve, no matter what anyone says, no matter what any rule states, no matter what anyone thinks. I know the person I am, I know the good I can do, and nothing else matters.”

It’s exactly what you said there that lets me know that Kate is in the right hands. 😀

J3, I would first like to say how this is fantastic news! I am glad that now the Gay Community is openly allowed to enlist in the military and possibly fufill their dreams by doing such(everyone should be allowed to fufill their dreams!). And secondly, by putting DADT’s repeal into the plot-line, I came up with an idea that might or might not be helpful to you: Ok, perhaps one of Kate’s friends from West Point could call her and tell her that she should come back and how they miss her oh so much(I know I would! Awesome character! Kudos! lol) and then she could maybe tell them that shes found a better way to serve her country now or something of that sort. But I’m sure that if you use my idea, it will be improved and if you use your idea, it will already have been better anyways. Thanks for your time! And keep up the marvelous work! Thanks for a great year!

Hey there Matt
Thanks for the suggestion, right now we’re not exactly sure how to handle it, I do have some rough ideas. The first 6 issues are already written and would be a bit tough to angle this new policy change into that, the issues plot don’t have much room for maneuvering something this important in as they are written tightly. I feel like if we’re going to address this, and we must at some point, that it needs to be done in a major way. We’ll have to build our way to it I think, maybe in the third arc.

@bardic_lady I have no idea. I confess, it is a story I wanted to tell when the time came.

DADT isn’t ending immediately. I know you have 2 years worth of stories lined up. Maybe after that you could have Greg comeback and co-write the arc of how Kate handles the news and possibilities in face of the repeal.

Hey there Cheekster
I’d love to talk to Greg about it sometime, but I don’t want a situation where we would take from him. And at this point I don’t foresee him returning to DC anytime soon. Right now this is something that Haden and I need to figure out, and like I said above, I definitely have some ideas. It has to play out in a very important way and address Kate’s life decisions as a whole for her. So when we get to that, it will have to be powerful and character defining stuff. In light of this historic news, I personally don’t want to wait two years to address this, but it also has to build into the plot in a natural way. It will allow us to place this revelation at a key moment for Kate. And should provide some interesting insights to her psyche based on where we are taking things with her, that would lead up to the point where this policy change would be properly addressed in the story .

First off, how fantastic is it that DADT is finally being removed. It is amazing to me that we can ask gays and lesbians to die for their country, but they aren’t allowed to be who they really are. Do people really think we could win a war without lesbians anyway? I mean, who is going to read the maps? But in all seriousness, this is such a key change in the fight for equality. I’m glad we’re going to see some of that filter into the book too. It’s nice to see real life situations reflected in stories we read. I’m really looking forward to this book. I know it’ll be great.

Hello Uncle Jimmy,
I just wanted to say how proud I am of you! Its so wonderful that all the dreams you’d tell me about while drawing stuff for me or of me have come true. For years now I love going into a Comic store just to search for stuff you’ve drawn so I can say I know him! All your art work my Daddy keeps locked up tight there among his prized possession. I wish you a very good new year. I know I haven’t seen you since I was 10 but know you left a lasting mark in my heart and have proven dreams to come true.

I have total faith you will find the right way to work it in. It may sound strange but I’m glad it happened in the comic this way. We got to see a strong character stand her ground no matter what it meant to her career. The message I got from it was more important than the policy in the ‘real world’ to me. It never should have existed in the first place, as you have said also.

This character and book is a top notch example of strong characters us real folks can relate to.

JH, I’m glad to hear you’ll be tackling the topic sooner rather than later and (as expected) giving some honest thought to Kate’s character and story. IMO DC couldn’t have picked a better team for Batwoman.

As a 15 year, active duty member of the military, I am proud to serve. The end of DADT should never have been a-long-time-coming, but now that it is gone I am even more proud to serve. Really looking forward to how this will play out for Kate Kane!!